As an American transplant, it was surprising to find that golf is not tax deductible in Sweden. In the United States, golf is used often by companies as a business deduction for client contact and corporate marketing. Even individuals can deduct club and association dues, in most circumstances.

In Sweden, corporations can deduct expenses for exercise programs for their employees. Many large companies have extensive gyms for their people, and getting your dues paid at private gym is not uncommon.

However, in Sweden, golf and some other popular sports that lead to longer life and good health, are excluded from the tax deductions. Svensk Golf has put together a pretty good overview of how is golf being ignored by the Swedish government for its health benefits. Swedish Golf Online brings it to you edited in English here.

Researchers, golfers and health care professionals agree. Golf is good for your health. But Swedish politicians have a different view - meaning exercise is still not deductible for businesses.

Leif Olsson retired in June after 50 years with Thermia Heat Pumps in Arvika, Sweden. The 65-year-old Olsson has never had a sick day over those years. Olsson has never cost his insurance company and the Swedish taxpayers a dime. Olsson thanks golf for his good health, a sport he has been faithful to for over 20 years. He plays golf with various friends twice a week during the season, on Thursday and Sunday mornings.

"It is clear that golf is a healthy activity. It moves the body while you concentrate on the game. It's a great workout physically and I stay focused mentally, as well," he told the Swedish magazine, Svensk Golf.

Leif might feel good from golf, but it is not a way to fitness. Not according to Swedish politicians.

From January 1, 1988, a Swedish company could make tax-free deductions for their employees' exercise regimen. There were, however, a few caveats. It had to be a simple physical sport that can be practiced by almost everyone, and sports that require more expensive facilities, equipment and peripherals, and most commonly practiced away from work such as golf, sailing, horseback riding and downhill skiing should not be subject to tax deductions.

It's not just Leif Olsson who believes golf is good for your health. There is scientific evidence that golf is good for health, as well.

The Karolinska Institute, one of Sweden's largest centers for training and research, accounts for 30 percent of the medical training and 40 percent of the medical academic research conducted in Sweden. In 2008,  a study was released from the Institute entitled, "Golf, a Game of Life and Death." It stated that golf reduced mortality in Swedish golf players.  The results were published in the research journal, The Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, and it stated that golf is so good for health that golfers live an average of five years longer than non-golfers of all ages.

That golf was not deductible as healthy exercise surprised the researchers behind the study.

"There are few sporting activities which have  better health benefits than the sport of golf. If I were a politician, data like this would make me happy that almost 600,000 Swedes play golf, which is obviously positive for the Swedish people's welfare," said Ulf de Faire, one of the co-authors of the study.

Sir Terry Matthews, the owner of host venue The Celtic Manor Resort, has congratulated the golfers who have won places on, what Sir Terry believes, is the strongest European team ever assembled for The Ryder Cup.

A European side containing eight of the world’s top 20 golfers was finalized on Sunday when Captain Colin Montgomerie added his three wildcard picks to the nine automatic qualifiers that were decided upon completion of the last counting event, the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Montgomerie selected Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari to join qualifiers Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher, Francesco Molinari, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Sweden's Peter Hanson for the match against the United States of America on October 1-3, 2010.

The Chairman of the Celtic Manor Resort, Sir Terry Matthews said: “I congratulate every member of the European team on winning their place in the team. It is a considerable achievement both for those who qualified automatically and for those who were awarded wildcard selections.

In my opinion, this is the strongest European team ever assembled and I look forward to welcoming these very talented players to The Celtic Manor Resort in four weeks’ time. I have no doubt they will meet an equally determined American side and we all anticipate a fantastic week of the finest sporting competition.”

At the start of the season, Montgomerie urged his Ryder Cup contenders to play in this year’s Celtic Manor Wales Open to better acquaint themselves with the Ryder Cup layout and, in Donald and Molinari, he has picked players who shone in that tournament.

Donald finished third on his first appearance at Celtic Manor in June while Molinari was just a shot further back in fourth. With tournament champion Graeme McDowell one of the highest placed team qualifiers after his sensational US Open triumph a fortnight later, and Wales Open runner-up Rhys Davies invited to be part of the team room in a non-playing role, Montgomerie has surrounded himself with golfers who have performed well on The Twenty Ten Course.

Like McDowell, Poulter and Jiménez return to Celtic Manor with fond memories as the Wales Open winners of 2003 and 2005 respectively.

In all, seven of the 12 players who will bid to regain The Ryder Cup from the Americans have played in this year’s Celtic Manor Wales Open and only Westwood and Poulter have yet to play the new Ryder Cup layout in competition.

“I think it’s a definite advantage for Europe to have so many of the team who know the course well,” said Celtic Manor Director of Golf Courses Jim McKenzie. “A good number of them also have the added confidence of having played very well on The Twenty Ten Course.

Although I think US Captain Corey Pavin is right when he says there is nothing tricked up about this golf course, there’s no doubt the more you play The Twenty Ten Course the more you learn about it.”

Pavin adds his four captain’s picks to complete his team next Monday, September 7. They will join automatic qualifiers Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Matt Kuchar.

There will be a new look to the Swedish Golf Federation as changes are being made in the organization.Right on the heels of the announcement of a drop in membership and, worse, a drop in the number of tee times booked, the Swedish Golf Federation announces a change in the responsibilities of its management.

Jan Ekblom will have responsibility for overseeing investment in business analysis. General Secretary Gunnar Hakansson takes over operational responsibility in the area of Business & Events and Bo Bengtsson has been named Deputy Secretary-General.

"We are now strengthened on analysis that will produce material making it easier for the Federation and the golf clubs to make more informed and better decisions in tough economic times. This is a priority that is fully in line with our stated mission to spend more on communications to better illustrate the benefits of our sport," says the Swedish Golf Federation General Secretary Gunnar Hakansson.

Jan Ekblom will work with business analysis. He begins his new duties immediately and will leave his present position as Head of Business & Events.

Per Svensson and the golf tourism project will be moved from the GIT to Business & Events. Per also will be working to develop new business ventures.

"We will focus more on our business now as the economy brightens, in particular, by strengthening Per Svensson's role to be responsible for new projects, besides tourism issues. I will take the role of operations executive," said Hakansson.

There will be a strengthening the department of Club & Construction. Anna Bauer will be Project Manager and Operations Coordinator. She moves from the position of Project Manager for the Golf School.

Internal IT, Internal Service and GIT will merge into one department with Bo Bengtsson as Director and Eva Bergstrom as Coordination Manager. This merger will provide better service to clubs, golfers and Federation partners. As noted, Bo Bengtsson is simultaneously appointed as the Deputy Secretary General of the Federation.